Jewelry



P; E. GILBERT. Jewelry.

No. 225,820. Patented Ma'r. 23, 1880.

N- PETEIS, PMOTO-LITIIOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D. C.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

FRANK E. GILBERT, OF J ERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

JEWELRY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 225,820, dated March 23, 1880.

Application filed December 17, 1879,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK E. GILBERT, of Jersey City, county of Hudson, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful improvement in Jewelry and other Ornaments, which improvement is fully set forth in the fol lowing specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a brooch, in plan view, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the same.

Similarletters indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to that class of jewelry which embodies natural feather ornaments. Heretofore in this class of jewelry the feathers have been cemented upon aframe or mounting of gold or other metal; or the feathers have been cemented to a body of card-board, which is afterward cemented or riveted to the gold or other, metallic base. As thus constructed, however, the article of jewelry is objectionable, due more especially to the fact that the feathers are arranged entirely above the plane or surface of the base plate or frame, and hence are always liable to be broken, ruffied, or otherwise injured; but, in addition to this, it is impracticable to cement the feathers in place so as to secure a substantial attachment, and the quills being exposed, the aesthetic appearance of the jewelry is marred.

The object of my invention is to avoid these objections, and to provide ornaments which are attractive and handsome, and in which the feathers are so situated as to avoid any 1iability of their being broken, ruffled, or otherwise injured by contact with any object. This is accomplished by forming or providing the metallic or other base or frame with a cavity or recess, within which the feathers are sunken' or arranged with the butts of their quills adjacent to each other, the same being confined therein by means of an ornamental shield, which is connected with the base or frame, and not only serves to confine the feathers in their proper relative position without the use of cement, but also to conceal the butt-ends of the quills, and thereby greatly improve the handsome appearance of the article.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my invention in the construction of a brooch; but it is manifest that the same may be carried into effect in the construction of ear-rings, scarf-pins, or any other article of jewelry or ornament.

The letter A indicates a base plate or frame, which may be stamped, struck up, or otherwise constructed witha cavity or recess, within which the natural feathers B are arranged in symmetrical fashion, according to the taste or nature of the articlein the present instance the butts of the quills being all disposed adj acent to each other at the center of the cavity in the base or frame, whereby they are confined firmly and substantially in their proper relative position by means of a shield,G, which is secured to the base plate or frame by means of a rivet, a, said shield resting directly on the butt-ends ot' the feathers and clamping the same to the base or frame. From opposite edges of the shield project horizontal elastic or spring arms b b, which are intended to press down upon the feathers at or near the middle of their length, and thus serve to retain them in substantially a horizontal plane, and to prevent the outer free ends of the feathers from being blown or otherwise raised out of the recess or cavity. By this means the feathers are efiectually protected, and as they are wholly arranged within the plane of the edge of the base or frame there is no liability of their coming in contact with any object or being in any other manner broken, rufied, or otherwise injured.

The shield O is of any desired ornamental configuration, or engraved or otherwise provided with any suitable design, and hence it imparts a very handsome and attractive appearance to the brooch, while at the same time it serves to confine the feathers in place and to conceal the butt-ends of the quills.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. As an improved article of manufacture, a brooch or other article of jewelry consisting of a recessed base plate or frame and naturalfeather ornaments arranged within the recess of the plate or frame, and confined in position entirely below the plane of the outer edge of said plate or frame, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. As a new manufacture, an article of jewelry consisting of a suitable plate or frame,

natural-feather ornaments arranged thereon,

connected with the base or frame, for confining the feathers in place, substantially as and 77 for the purpose described.

4. An article of jewelry consisting of a recessed base plate or frame, natural-feather ornaments arranged wholly within the recess, and an ornamental shield arranged over the quills of the feathers, and having horizontallyprojecting elastic or spring arms for bearing 20 on the feathers, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 11th day of December, 1879.

FRANK E. GILBERT.

Witnesses E. F. KASTENHUBER, J. VAN SAN'rvooRD. 

